Rutgers vs. Hamilton College

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Hamilton College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Hamilton College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Hamilton College Clinton, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Hamilton College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Hamilton College 2,031
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Hamilton College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Hamilton College #26
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Hamilton College -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Hamilton College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Hamilton College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Hamilton College $68,960
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Hamilton College $68,960
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Hamilton College $17,510
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Hamilton College $28,719
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Hamilton College $55,511
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Hamilton College 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Hamilton College 8,531
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Hamilton College 1,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Hamilton College 13.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Hamilton College 39%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Hamilton College 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Hamilton College 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Hamilton College 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Hamilton College A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Hamilton College Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Hamilton College Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Hamilton College 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Hamilton College 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Hamilton College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Hamilton College Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Hamilton College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Hamilton College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Hamilton College 89%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Hamilton College $79,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Hamilton College 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Hamilton College $15,760
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Hamilton College $162

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Hamilton College 44%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Hamilton College 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Hamilton College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Hamilton College No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Hamilton College 63%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Hamilton College 7%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Hamilton College 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Hamilton College 7%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Hamilton College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Hamilton College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Hamilton College 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Hamilton College 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Hamilton College 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Hamilton College 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Hamilton College 62%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Hamilton College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Rutgers No
  • Hamilton College Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Hamilton College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Hamilton College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Hamilton College Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Hamilton College in Clinton, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Hamilton College based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 2,031 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Hamilton College is in Clinton, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Hamilton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Hamilton College 9:1.

Rutgers vs. Hamilton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Hamilton College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Hamilton College ($20,522 vs. $28,719).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 10.3% lower than at Hamilton College ($15,714 vs. $17,510).
  • Hamilton College is 284.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $51,031 more per year; $68,960.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 84.2% higher at Hamilton College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $31,519 more per year; $68,960.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hamilton College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (56% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hamilton College students is 231.6% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($55,511 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Hamilton College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or Hamilton College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Hamilton College and Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hamilton College (1500) is 90 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Hamilton College students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Hamilton College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Hamilton College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Hamilton College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Hamilton College Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hamilton College students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Hamilton College (13.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 39% at Hamilton College.

Rutgers vs. Hamilton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and Hamilton College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Hamilton College's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Hamilton College earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,000 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hamilton College graduates have a $6,455 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($15,760 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Hamilton College graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($162 vs. $229).
  • More Hamilton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.